Van Doorne Hearing Care center opens

Van Doorne Hearing Care has opened at 391 Garden Ave., east off 120th Avenue between Lakewood and James.

BEN BEVERSLUIS

What’s it called and where is it? Van Doorne Hearing Care has opened at 391 Garden Ave., east off 120th Avenue between Lakewood and James.

Who runs it? The independent practice is owned by Karen Van Doorne Nagelkirk, a board certified doctor of audiology, who has been an audiologist in West Michigan for 32 years, including 20 in private practice, with previous offices in Grand Haven, Zeeland and Grandville.

What does it do? The practice focuses on a “holistic approach” to providing hearing devices, looking at aspects of an individual’s personal profile and lifestyle needs and matching those with correct amplification. It also offers Real Ear Measurement for precise fitting and LACE training, a CD program to “retrain the brain” to hear better in noise. And it offers diagnostic hearing testing, and can fit custom earpieces and earplugs.

What do they say about it? “I wanted to offer the kind of practice that my patients have told me they’ve always wanted,” Nagelkirk said. The new office in a building she owns was designed, she said, in a “warm and inviting” atmosphere, to provide a setting like someone’s living room, with music and a television, to help test new hearing devices.

Why here, why now? Two-thirds of the people with hearing loss are younger than 65 and still working, and the average age of people needing hearing assistance is 62, Nagelkirk said. New technology, like Bluetooth connectivity, helps them stay connected to their world with “plug-and-play” ease.

How to connect? The practice is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and
evenings as scheduled. Call (616) 796-9387 or go to www.vandoornehearing.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.